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〃I did not say so； but is it necessary that he must be responsible for the follies of his relations？〃
〃In truth； sire； so much the worse for the father who cannot make his children respect him。 If the marechal was respected by the public； believe me he would be so by his family。〃
This retort was perhaps too severe。 I found this by the silence of the king； but as； in fact； it imported little； and； by God's help； I was never under much constraint with him； I saw him blush； and then he said to me；
〃Now； I undertake to bring madame de Guemenee into proper order。 The favor I ask is； that you would not meddle。 I have power enough to satisfy you； but； for heaven's sake； do not enter into more quarrels than you have already。 It seems to me that you ought to avoid them instead of creating such disturbances。〃
He had assumed a grave tone in reading me this lecture： but as we were in a place in which majesty could not be committed； I began to laugh heartily； and to startle him； I said that henceforward I would pilot my bark myself； and defend myself by openly assailing all persons who testified an aversion to me。 How laughable it was to see the comic despair in which this determination threw the king。 It seemed to him that the whole court would be at loggerheads； and he could not restrain himself from exclaiming； that he would a hundred times rather struggle against the king of Prussia and the emperor of Germany united； than against three or four females of the chateau。 In a word； I frightened him so completely； that he decided on the greatest act of courage he had ever essayed in my favor： it was； to desire the intervention of the duc de Choiseul in all these quarrels。
The credit of this minister was immense； and this credit was based on four powerful auxiliaries； namely the parliament； the philosophers； the ； and the women。 The high magistracy found in him a public and private protector。 The parliaments had themselves a great many clients； and their voices； given to the duc de Choiseul； gave him great power in the different provinces。 The philosophers； ranged under the banner of Voltaire； who was their god； and of d'Alembert； their patriarch； knew all his inclinations for them； and knew how far they might rely on his support in all attempts which they made to weaken the power of the clergy； and to diminish the gigantic riches which had been amassed by prelates and monasteries。 The writers were equally devoted to him： they progressed with the age； and as on all sides they essayed to effect important reforms； it was natural that they should rally about him in whose hands was the power of their operations。
The ladies admired his gallantry： in fact； the duc de Choiseul was a man who understood marvellously well how to combine serious labors with pleasure。 I was； perhaps； the only woman of the court whom he would not love； and yet I was not the least agreeable nor the most ugly。 It was very natural for them to exalt his merit and take him under their especial protection。 Thus was he supported in every quarter by them； they boasted of his measures； and by dint of repeating in the ears of every body that M。 de Choiseul was a minister ； and the support of monarchy； they had contrived to persuade themselves of the truth of their assertion。 In fact； if France found herself freed from the Jesuits； it was to the duc de Choiseul that this was owing； and this paramount benefit assured to him universal gratitude。
The king was fully aware of this unanimity of public opinion in favor of his minister。 He was； besides； persuaded； that in arranging the ； and concluding the alliance with the imperial house； the duc de Choiseul had evinced admirable diplomatic talents； and rendered France real； and important； service。 His attachment to him was incumbent； and rested on solid foundations。 If； at a subsequent period； he dismissed him； it was because he was deceived by a shameful intrigue which it will cost me pain to develop to you； because I took by far too much a leading part in it； which now causes me the deepest regret。
Now； by the act of my presentation； the duc de Choiseul would be compelled to meet me often； which would render our mutual situation very disagreeable。 On this account the king sought to reconcile us； and would have had no difficulty in effecting his wishes had he only had the resistance of the minister and his wife to encounter。 The lady had not much influence over her husband； and besides she had too much good sense to struggle against the wishes of the king： but the duchesse de Grammont was there； and this haughty and imperious dame had so great an ascendancy with her brother； and behaved with so little caution； that the most odious reports were in circulation about their intimacy。
It could scarcely be hoped that we could tame this towering spirit； which saw in me an odious rival。 Louis XV did not flatter himself that he could effect this prodigy； but he hoped to have a greater ascendancy over his minister。 It was to the duc de Choiseul； therefore； that he first addressed himself； desirous of securing the husband and wife before he attacked the redoubtable sister。 The next morning； after my warm assault on the prince de Soubise； he profited by an audience which the duke requested at an unusual hour to introduce this negotiation of a new kind； and the details I give you of this scene are the more faithful； as the king gave them to me still warm immediately after the conversation had terminated。
The state affairs having been concluded； the king； seeking to disguise his voluntary embarrassment； said to the duke； smiling；
〃Duc de Choiseul； I have formed for my private hours a most delightful society： the most attached of my subjects consider themselves highly favored when I invite them to these evening parties so necessary for my amusement。 I see with pain that you have never yet asked me to admit you there。〃
〃Sire；〃 replied the duke； 〃the multiplicity of the labors with which your majesty has charged me； scarcely allows me time for my pleasures。〃
〃Oh； you are not so fully occupied but that you have still some time to spend with the ladies； and I think that I used to meet you frequently at the marquise de Pompadour's。〃
〃Sire； she was my friend。〃
〃Well； and why； is not the comtesse du Barry？ Who has put it into your head that she was opposed to you？ You do not know her： she is an excellent woman： not only has she no dislike to you； but even desires nothing more than to be on good terms with you。〃
〃I must believe so since your majesty assures me of it； but； sire； the vast business with which I am overwhelmed〃
〃Is not a sufficing plea； I do not allow that without a special motive； you should declare yourself against a person whom I honor with my protection。 As you do not know her； and cannot have any thing to urge against her but prejudices founded on false rumors and scandalous fabrications； I engage you to sup with me at her apartments this evening； and I flatter myself that when I wish it you will not coin a parcel of reasons in opposition to my desire。〃
〃I know the obedience that is due to your majesty；〃 said de Choiseul； bowing low。
〃Well； then； do first from duty what I flatter myself you will afterwards do from inclination。 Duc de Choiseul； do not allow yourself to be influenced by advice that will prove injurious to you。 What I ask cannot compromise you； but I should wish that with you all should be quiet； that no one should struggle against me； and that too with the air of contending against a person's station。 Do not reply； you know perfectly what I would say； and I know what belongs to myself。〃
Here the conversation terminated。 The duc de Choiseul did not become my friend any the more； but behaved towards me with all due consideration。 He used grace and in his proceedings； without mingling with it anything approaching to nonsense。 He never allowed himself； whatever has been said； to dart out in my face any of those epigrams which public malignity has attributed to him。 Perhaps like many other persons in the world； he has said many pleasantries of me which have been reported as said in my presence； but I repeat that he never uttered in my society a single word with which I had cause to be offended。
At this juncture I received a letter of which I had the folly to be proud； altho' a little reflection should have made me think that my situation alone inspired it： it was from M。 de Voltaire。 This great genius was born a courtier。 Whether he loved the protection of the great； or whether he thought it necessary to him； he was constantly aiming； from his youth upwards； at obtaining the countenance of persons belonging to a high rank； which made him servile and adulatory whilst they were in power； and full of grimace towards them when the wind favor ceased to swell their sails。 It was in this way that mesdames de Chateauroux and de Pompadour had had his homage。 He had sung their praises； and； of course； he could not forget me。 You will recall to mind the letter which he wrote to the duc d'Aiguillon； on occasion of the piece of poetry entitled 〃。〃 He had denied having composed it；